Film review: Frost/Nixon

Last updated 09:23 22/12/2008

WHEN FROST MET NIXON: Already an award-winning play, Frost/ Nixon has made a seamless transition to celluloid.

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The Watergate scandal might have cost America's 37th president his job, but that wasn't enough for many of his countryman. They wanted their bogeyman, Richard Milhous Nixon - blamed for everything from Vietnam to economic woes - to face criminal charges.

But a defiant Nixon wasn't even going to give them the satisfaction of an admission of guilt let alone an apology, and when his successor, Gerald Ford, pardoned him of any wrongdoing, any hope of an indictment disappeared.

Watching all these events from afar, British television presenter David Frost was fascinated by the level of interest in Nixon (a TV audience of 400 million watched him resign). Having failed once at trying to break into the American market, Frost thought landing a "big fish" like Nixon for an interview would give him the credibility and fame he craved.

Initially reluctant, Nixon was persuaded that the interview would not only provide a handsome payout, but also be a way of setting the record straight.

"It will be like a big, wet kiss - Frost will be pitching puffballs at you all night," his advisers assured him. After all, this was a journalist whose toughest assignment to date had been the Bee Gees.

Already an award-winning play, Frost/ Nixon has made a seamless transition to celluloid. It was, perhaps, hard to go wrong as soon as Peter Morgan (The Queen) was asked to adapt his script, and stage-show stars Frank Langella (Nixon) and Michael Sheen (Frost) confirmed they would reprise their roles. But, in tandem with Morgan, director Ron Howard has done a wonderful job of expanding the story and fleshing out supporting characters, but retaining the crackling tension and power play between the central pair.

Frost and Nixon's relationship is written and shot like a boxing match; tough talking, early sparring, corner consultation and seemingly knockout blows.

As Apollo 13 and Cinderella Man have shown, Howard is at the peak of his powers when recreating history, and here his attention to detail is outstanding: the audience revealed in the minutiae; Nixon complaining about Frost's effeminate Italian shoes; Frost having to go cap in hand to ensure his weed-eater sponsorship is retained.

However, this film is all about the acting. Langella, who has portrayed deeply ingrained villains like John Wilkes Booth and Skeletor, almost achieves the impossible - making Nixon a sympathetic, almost likeable, character. Up against him is the noughties chameleon Sheen (The Queen). Having already slipped into the skin of Kenneth Williams, H G Wells and Tony Blair, Sheen captures Frost's determination and vanity with understated aplomb.

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A creditable supporting cast includes Oliver Platt, Matthew Macfadyen, Toby Jones, a menacing Kevin Bacon, a deliciously offbeat Sam Rockwell and the alluring Rebecca Hall.

A well-paced, lovingly crafted, superbly acted drama that deserves plenty of recognition at the upcoming awards season.

Frost/Nixon
Director: Ron Howard
Time: 122 minutes
Rated: M
Trailer: Flicks.co.nz

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